Creating an Instrument with your Child
“Creativity is an area in which younger people have a tremendous advantage since they have an endearing habit of always questioning past wisdom and authority.” – Bill Hewlett
There are a plethora of instruments out there, and many countries have instruments primary unique to them or that region. From Koto’s to Bagpipes there is no shortage of musical instruments to select from. One great exercise for children when discussing sound, and fostering creativity, is to have them create their own instruments.
Perhaps one of the first instruments most children learn to make is a kazoo out of some wax paper and a comb. This is a fun little project to experiment around with, and it’s also simple to make. Building instruments with your child is a fun, and engaging activity what will help them get interested in music, encouraged creativity, and foster learning.
While instruments are typically created with (at least moderately) durable materials, for this exercise simply using materials you have lying around the house will work out fine. When asked to create an instrument, most children will likely choose to create a guitar (opting to use materials such as rubber bands, shoe boxes, and empty paper towel rolls. Still, there are ways to create a variety of instruments. A drum, for example, is another simple, yet fun instrument to make.
All in all, creating an instrument is about creativity. For example, you can make a rain stick, a gong, bells, or any number of things. Most importantly have fun and let your child experiment around and see what he or she comes up with. After the instrument is created, you and your child can play together. If nothing else it’s sure to create a beautiful and lasting memory, one that will be carried by them for the rest of their life.